James Traficant: “I support the rule, and I was an original cosponsor of the bill. I support the bill. I do not mean to demean or condemn…”

“I support the rule, and I was an original cosponsor of the bill. I support the bill. I do not mean to demean or condemn the President, I am just a pragmatist and I keep a look at the scoreboard. As high as 50 to 70 percent of all narcotics comes through and from Mexico, and, if there is a war on drugs going on in America, I am Stonewall Jackson. I liken certifying Mexico as a cooperative partner in our war against drugs as giving a special tax exemption to Al Capone during Prohibition to sell booze. Nothing personal against Mexico. It is not working. American cities are busting at the seams with narcotics. Let me say this to the Congress. Other than a nuclear threat, that is the greatest national security threat our Nation faces and every citizens feels it in every city across this country. In fact, I do not think the bill goes far enough. I recommend to the majority party that they bring to the floor the Traficant bill that does not mandate but allows for the deployment of military troops falling out of chairs without armrests all over the world, put them on our border, not to make arrests but simply to detain and keep both illegal immigrants out and narcotics. Mr. Speaker, if we are going to have a war on drugs, we cannot do it with the Peace Corps. It is time to start fighting. I support the rule. I support the bill. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.”